Financial capacity and the onset of dementia
Published 22 September 2009
A study published in Neurology by researchers in the US has found that declining financial skills could be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
The year long study worked with 87 people with MCI, 25 of whom developed Alzheimer-type dementia during the study period and 62 who did not; and with 76 cognitively healthy people as controls. The group was tested at the beginning of the year and at the end with a tool called the Financial Capacity Instrument (FCI). This measured skills including understanding of financial concepts, cash transactions, bank statement management and bill payment.
Alzheimer's Society comment:
'This could be a useful indicator for doctors supporting people with memory problems. Everyone struggles now and then to divide a restaurant bill or tot up your chequebook. However, this study suggests that if you already experience significant memory problems and start to notice a decline in your financial skills it could be a sign of developing dementia.
More research is needed into memory decline to begin to find useful, early indicators of the development of dementia. Dementia research is desperately underfunded. One million people will develop dementia in the next 10 years. We must act now.'
Dr. Susanne Sorensen
Head of Research
Alzheimer's Society
